Secular state

Movements for laïcité in France and separation of church and state in the United States have defined modern concepts of secularism.

Conceptually, the term refers to the creation of a secular state (with or without legally explicit church–state separation) and to disestablishment, the changing of an existing, formal relationship between the church and the state.

Secularity can be established at a state's creation (e.g. the United States of America) or by it later secularizing (e.g. France or Nepal).

The Constitution of Nepal, adopted in 2015, affirms Nepal as a secular federal parliamentary republic divided into seven provinces.

Secular states do not have a state religion (e.g. an established religion) or an equivalent, although the absence of an established state religion does not necessarily imply that a state is fully secular or egalitarian in all respects. The reverse progression can also occur, however; a state can go from being secular to being a religious state, as in the case of Iran where the secularized state of the Pahlavi dynasty was replaced by an Islamic Republic (list below).

A state with an official religion, while not secular, is not necessarily a theocracy, a country whose rulers have both secular and spiritual authority.

Secularity can be established at a state's creation (e.g. the United States of America) or by it later secularizing (e.g. France or Nepal).

In 1905, state secularism was officially established.

The constitution defines Nigeria as a democratic secular state.

A secular state is an idea pertaining to secularity, whereby a state is or purports to be officially neutral in matters of religion, supporting neither religion nor irreligion.

The reverse progression can also occur, however; a state can go from being secular to being a religious state, as in the case of Iran where the secularized state of the Pahlavi dynasty was replaced by an Islamic Republic (list below).

While the Shah increasingly modernized Iran and claimed to retain it as a fully secular state, arbitrary arrests and torture by his secret police, the SAVAK, were used to crush all forms of political opposition.

Turkey is a secular, unitary, formerly parliamentary republic which adopted a presidential system with a referendum in 2017; the new system came into effect with the presidential election in 2018.

Spain is a secular parliamentary democracy and a parliamentary monarchy, with King Felipe VI as head of state.

Today a secular state without any official religion, religious freedoms and practices were severely curtailed during the communist era with all forms of worship being outlawed.

The new Constitution drafted in 1857 established a secular state, federalism as the form of government, civil marriage, freedom of the press, and educational freedom (lay education).

Secularity can be established at a state's creation (e.g. the United States of America) or by it later secularizing (e.g. France or Nepal).

The Constitution of Serbia defines it as a secular state with guaranteed religious freedom.

Under article 48 of its Constitution, Azerbaijan is a secular state and ensures religious freedom.

The constitution establishes a secular state and provides for freedom of religion, and the government largely respects this right.

Niger is a secular country and separation of state and religion is guaranteed by Articles 3 and 175 of the 2010 Constitution, which dictate that future amendments or revisions may not modify the secular nature of the republic of Niger.

The Philippines is an officially secular state, although Christianity is the dominant faith.

Today, however, Kyrgyzstan is a secular state, although Islam has exerted a growing influence in politics.

Tajikistan considers itself a secular state with a Constitution providing for freedom of religion.

Bulgaria is a secular state with guaranteed religious freedom by constitution, but Orthodoxy is designated as a "traditional" religion.

Portugal is a secular state: church and state were formally separated during the Portuguese First Republic, and later reiterated in the 1976 Portuguese Constitution.

In contrast, a secular state purports to be officially neutral in matters of religion, supporting neither religion nor irreligion.

Although officially a secular state, the vast majority of Turks are Muslim, and the state grants some special privileges to Muslims and to Islam in the media and private religious institutions.

Romania is a secular state and has no state religion.

Freedom of religion as a legal concept is related to, but not identical with, religious toleration, separation of church and state, or secular state (laïcité).